Preview: Osasuna vs. Mallorca - prediction, team news, lineups

Osasuna welcome Mallorca to the Estadio El Sadar this weekend, with the hosts unable to climb higher than their current ninth-placed position, but they could drop into the bottom half of the table.

Match preview

Jagoba Arrasate's side enter this match in poor form, having not won a game in their last five outings, most recently falling to a 2-0 loss against Bilbao, missing their chance to climb closer to eighth spot.

Osasuna were dominated in that match, allowing Bilbao to register eight shots on target while the visitors were limited to just three chances in their final third, and that defeat ended Arrasate's team's chances of a finish higher than ninth.

Sunday's home side could start the day in 10th spot with Valencia and Celta Vigo playing on Saturday, but they will be keen to end the season occupying their current ninth spot, as that will better their positions from the last two seasons.

Arrasate's side have conceded 49 goals in 37 matches to date, which is a significantly higher figure than all of the teams above them in the table, suggesting that they are likely to give up a lot of opportunities to Mallorca this weekend.

Sunday's visitors will need some help from any potential defensive mishaps from Osasuna, having only netted 14 goals on their travels this season, winning just twice away from home.

Mallorca will have to make that three victories by the end of Sunday to give themselves a chance of survival, with Cadiz having a seemingly favourable fixture against already-relegated Alaves.

Granada face Espanyol and defeat for the hosts in that match will also help Mallorca, with Granada currently sitting just one point above 18th spot, although, Mallorca have a worse goal difference.

Javier Aguirre's side were boosted by a 2-1 win last Sunday, when Abdon Prats netted a 92nd-minute winner against Rayo Vallecano, after Vedat Muriqi had given Mallorca an early lead.

A five-goal thriller occurred in the reverse fixture, with Osasuna coming out on top thanks to goals from Jose Angel, Inigo Perez and Javi Martinez, who struck the winner just two minutes from time at the Iberostar Estadi.

Osasuna La Liga form:

Mallorca La Liga form:

Team News

There are no new injury or suspension concerns for Osasuna, who named number one Sergio Herrera between the posts last time out, after he was replaced by Juan Perez in the previous game.

Ante Budimir was among the substitutes who came on 20 minutes from time against Getafe earlier this month, but the 30-year-old returned to the starting 11 against Bilbao and is likely to retain his place this weekend.

Ruben Garcia is in contention to return to the side after starting on the bench last time out, while Ezequiel Avila is expected to line up on the other wing, providing the width for the hosts.

Aleksandar Sedlar, Dominik Greif and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta will be absent from Mallorca's squad, but Aguirre could name an unchanged starting 11 to the team that picked up all three points last weekend.

Muriqi will lead the line alongside Angel Rodriguez, who will be aiming to add to his three league goals for the campaign, but will need service from Jaume Costa and Antonio Sanchez out wide.

Brian Olivan, Antonio Raillo, Martin Valjent and Pablo Maffeo all received positive ratings last Sunday, and they are certain to continue as the back four, looking to replicate their defensive performance from their last away match, when they secured a clean sheet against Sevilla.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Cruz, David Garcia, Unai Garcia, Vidal; Oier, Torres, Brasanac; Ruben Garcia, Budimir, Avila

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Reina; Olivan, Raillo, Valjent, Maffeo; Costa, Battaglia, Sevilla, Sanchez; Muriqi, Rodriguez

We say: Osasuna 1-2 Mallorca

Osasuna's poor form may play a factor in this result, with Mallorca boosted from their win last time out and encouraged that they can secure their top-fight status with a win, granted other results also need to go their way.

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